Shining the Spotlight on green coffee identity.

The specialty coffee industry is evolving, and so is Re:co. This year, we’re introducing a reimagined Re:co experience that we’re calling Spotlight.

Spotlight is an engagement opportunity that encourages active participation and collaboration towards a concentrated area of focus.

Ahead of the 2025 Specialty Coffee Expo in Houston, we’ll be inviting a small group to gather in order to tackle difficult questions, clarify terminology, and help to shape the future of coffee through meaningful, hands-on engagement.

We’re inviting practicing coffee processors, producing institutions, subject matter experts, and passionate participants to apply and join this focused gathering, contributing their insights to this vital discussion.

Apply to join the conversation

Who should apply to participate? 

As this activity is very limited in size to facilitate small group exercises, only a very small number of applicants will be invited to participate. While all roles and perspectives will be considered, we would encourage all applicants to consider how the topic of green coffee identity relates to their work and whether their work will be directly impacted by the outcomes of this activity. Those applicants who demonstrate a clear connection between the topic of green coffee identity and their work, experience, or perspective are more likely to be successful.

What kind of time commitment would participation require?  

Before the event, participants will be expected to:  

  • Discuss the topic with members of their community; 

  • Participate in a categorization exercise; 

  • Complete approximately an hour of pre-reading.  

At and after the meeting, participants will be expected to:  

  • Attend presentations and tastings to help establish the complexity of the subject across economic, legal, ethical, and human considerations;  

  • Complete additional categorization exercises;  

  • Participate in small group discussions;  

  • Present an overview of smaller group discussions to the larger group. 

  • Share learnings with other relevant stakeholders to support the development of a common language for green coffee identity. 

At and after the meeting, participants will be expected to:  

  • Attend presentations and tastings to help establish the complexity of the subject across economic, legal, ethical, and human considerations;  

  • Complete additional categorization exercises;  

  • Participate in small group discussions;  

  • Present an overview of smaller group discussions to the larger group. 

  • Share learnings with other relevant stakeholders to support the development of a common language for green coffee identity. 

About the Application and Selection Process 

The selection team will include members of the Re:co Symposium Team and the SCA Standards Development Panel.  

  • Application process opens  

  • Application process closes  

  • Applicants are anticipated to receive notification of their status in February 2025, depending on the volume of applications.  

As participants are expected to contribute to the meeting and discussions, the selection team will be looking at how each applicant’s experience, work, or activities supplement the perspectives of other invitees. While all roles and perspectives will be considered, we would encourage all applicants to consider how the topic of green coffee identity relates to their work and whether their work will be directly impacted by the outcomes of this activity. Those applicants who demonstrate a clear connection between the topic of green coffee identity and their work, experience, or perspective are more likely to be successful. 

Fluency in English or Spanish is not required, but a working command of either will greatly enhance a participant’s experience.  

Over the past 15 years, Re:co has fostered a vibrant network of emerging and established leaders within the specialty coffee industry. In 2025, the SCA invites previous and prospective Re:co participants to apply for a facilitated meeting on the topic of green coffee identity, taking place April 23–24, 2025, ahead of the Specialty Coffee Expo in Houston.

This highly focused gathering will prioritize small group exercises, and only a very limited number of applicants will be selected to participate. Applicants are encouraged to reflect on how green coffee identity connects to their work and whether the outcomes of this meeting will directly impact their role or perspective. Those with clear and relevant experience or insights are most likely to be selected.

Selected participants will be expected to apply their expertise and actively contribute to this collaborative effort. Once notified, participants will have five working days to complete registration, including a nominal fee of $75.

What’s next?

Two new show activations—Retail Buyers Lounge and Green Coffee Connect—are quickly becoming the home of practical, actionable content and experiences designed to meet the needs of some of Re:co’s diverse audience. Both will be offered for the second year at Specialty Coffee Expo in Houston (April 2025) and World of Coffee Geneva (June 2025).

We plan to bring this interactive, problem-solving approach to a larger audience in 2026 and we look forward to sharing more details about Re:co’s evolution in the months to come.